Method and apparatus for splitting glass cylinders



Sept. 8. 1925. 1,553,103

P; R. PIKEE METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SPLITTING- GLASS CYLINDERS Filed Jan. l8 1924 Patented Sept. 8, 1925.

UNITED, STATES PATENT OFFICE.

PAUL R. PIKE, OF JEANNETTE, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR T0 WINDOW GLASS MA- CHINE COMPANY, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SPLITTING GLASS CYLINDERS.

Application filed January To all whom/ it may concern:

Be it known that I, PAUL R. PIKE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Jeannette, county of Westmoreland, and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Methods and Apparatus for Splitting Glass Cylinders, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description. I

This invention relates to a method and apparatus for splitting glass cylinders, and is particularly directed toward the prevention of scratches when cylinders are divided into two or more sections or shawls.

Prior to flattening window glass made by the cylinder process, it is customary, particularly with cylinders of large diameter, to split them longitudinally intwo or more places to form shawls suitable for flattening. This is generally done by subjecting the portion where it is desired to make the split to the action of a hot iron until the cylinder divides. WVhether the splitting is done in this or any other manner, it will be found that the edges formed are extremely sharp and sometimes quite ragged, so that when a subsequent split is made, the edges first formed will tend to scratch or mar the glass on the adjacent shawl. This is particularly true with the usual method of splitting, wherein the glass cylinder is burned at one point around its circumference, and then rotated on the splitting buck so that this portion is uppermost. The lower edge is then split with the hot iron and a cutting wheel is applied to the burned or scored portion, so that a second split occurs at this point. When this is done, the two shawls tend to fall away from one anotherat the top, and they then slide toward each other on the splitting buck, and one of them generally slides inside the other. VVhen this happens, the jagged edge frequently scratches the other shawl, thus materially reducing the quality of the glass produced. 7

I provide for inserting a separator between the edges formed by one splitting operation to prevent scratching of the glass by such edges when a subsequent split is made? This is preferably done by placing the separator adjacent the first split and subjecting it to a force urging it between the shawls when the second split is made.

In the accompanying drawings illustrat- 18, 1924. Serial No. 687,006.

ing the present prefered embodiment of the invention,

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a splitting buck having a glass cylindler thereon with the first split already made, the upper portion of the cylinder being broken away to.

more clearly illustrate the separating apparatus;

Figure 2 is a section on the line IIII of having flexible'straps 3 for supporting a glass cylinder 4:. When a cylinder length is placed upon the splitting j'buck, it is: rubbed with a hot iron at the desired point until a longitudinal split occurs. As is well known to those skilled in this art, the glass cylinder tends to reduce in diameter, and one of the edges almost invariably jumps over the other edge until the edges are lapped, as shown in Figures 1 and 2. If this does not occur automatically, it isperformed by the splitter, in order to prevent breakage. Prior to splitting the cylinder again, a separator is placed inside the split cylinder, as shown in Figures 1 and 2. This apparatus comprises a smooth frame 5 of wood or other suitable material having a pair of rollers 6 at the ends thereof and provided with as many strips 7 of separating material as may be desired. The strips 7 may be made of canvas belting of suitable thickness, and are preferably beveled off at the outer end, as indicated at 8 in Figure 4. The separator is placed inside the cylinder with the beveled edges 8 in contact with the lapped edge of the cylinder, and the weight of the frame 5 constantly urges the separators towards this edge.

When the separator is inserted, a split remote from the bottom portion is effected in any desired manner, as by the operation above set forth. lVhen this is done, the cyl-.

inder is separated into two portions 4* and 4 and these tend to roll away from one another on the supporting straps 3. As they do so, the separating strips? are urged between the shawls by the weight of the frame 5, as clearly shown in Figure 8, so that as the shawls continue to slide, they are maintained apart from one another, and scratching is thereby eliminated. It has been found by actual practice that the use of this apparatus prevents scoring or checking to such an extent that flattening house breakage from this cause is practically eliminated.

I provide for the insertion of a nonscratching pad or separator between the edge portions formed by splitting a glass cylinder, whereby the edges are'mai'iitained 'out of contact with one'another. Because of the saving in time and labor, this 'is-pre'h erably accomplished by placing the separator adjacent the split and iasing it to move between the edges, as set forth, for example, in the above described embodiment of the invention. It will be understood, however, that certain of the advantages of the invention may be achieved by the use of a manually inserted pad, "so that the invention is not limited to the term shown, nor to the sequence of operations as set forth in the specif' cation or the claims, but may be otherwise embodied or employed within the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. The method of splitting glass cylinders which includes splitting a cylinder-longitudinally, causing the insertion of a separator between the edge "portions formed by such splitting operation to prevent scratching of the glass by such edge portions when a subsequent split is made and thereafter making such subsequent split, substantially as described.

2. The method of splitting glass cylin ders which includes supporting'a cylinder at the bottom portion thereof, splitting'the cylinder longitudinally adjacent the bottom portion, subsequently splitting the cylinder at a point remote from the bottom portion, and causing the insertion of a separator between the edge portions formed by the first splitting operation to prevent scratching of the glass by such edge portions when the subsequent split is made, substantially as described.

3. The method of: splitting glass cylinders which includes supporting a cylinder at the bottom portion thereof, burning the cylinder adjacent the bottom portion, totating the cylinder, splitting the rotated cylinder adjacent the bottom portion thereof,

applying "a "cutter to the cylindr at the burned portion to efiect a split at that point, and causing the insertion of a separator between theedge po rtions formed by the first splitting operation to prevent scratching of the glass by such edge portion when the subsequent split is made, substantially as described.

'4. The method "of splitting glass cylinders which includes splitting a cylinder longitudinally and lapping the edges thus formed, placing a separator against the inner lap'peded-ge, a gainsplitting the'cylinder to form it int'o'sh'awls,'allowing'the shawls to fall apart, and allowing the "separato-r 'to slide between the lapped edges,

substantially described.

5. The method of splitting glass cylinders which includes splittinga 'c'yli'nder'longitudi'n'ally "and "lapping the "edges thus formed, 'jlacing a separator against the inner lapped Clg,"Siibj'OtlHg thesepara'tor to a force urging it againsttheedg'e, again splitting the cylinder'to form itinto shawls, and flllOWiIlg the shawls to fall apart, substantial-ly 'as'described.

'in'der,"and rollers on the frame adapted to hold the 'frame out of contact with the cylinder, substantially as described.

9. Apparatus for preventing scratching in splitting glass cylinders, including a cylinder'support, a non-scratching separator, and means biasingthe separator to move between the'edgs formed by splitting-the cylinder, substantially as described. Y

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

PAUL R. PIKE. 

